With the rapid expansion of mass transit system, big cities like Shanghai should be able to ease the congestion and pollution caused by an excessive number of cars. But, that is still no easy task.

Statistics show that Shanghai's subway lines will reach 350 km by the end of this year, making the city No 3 in the world in terms of subway length. Shanghai could be ranked No 1 when the length is extended to 430 km next May in time for the World Expo.

This means about 5.5 million people each day could use the city's subway system, thereby reducing traffic bottlenecks and air and noise pollution in downtown Shanghai.

At present, Shanghai suffers from severe traffic congestion, during not only rush hours and weekdays but also off-peak hours and weekends.

For years, car emissions have been blamed for contributing 60 percent of the air pollution in the city center, victimizing local residents with various respiratory diseases.

What's more, Shanghai has for the fifth consecutive year not met its target of noise reduction, which has become a major source of public complaints. It is true that Shanghai has announced a number of measures to deal with the issues. Starting from August 1, cars that are considered highly polluting or not meeting the China I standards will be barred from entering the Middle Ring Road.

Shanghai also plans to implement the China IV emission standards, equivalent to Euro IV, on November 1, ahead of the 2011 national deadline. In addition, Shanghai is building 16 parking lots with 8,000 spaces near subway terminals in the outlying areas so that people can park and ride the mass transit system instead of driving their cars into the city center.

These are commendable measures. Yet much more needs to be done for truly easing the traffic jams and air and noise pollution caused by automobiles. For example, the ban on using the horn, which was made effective from June 1, 2007, has hardly been enforced.

Many local people still regard owning and driving a car as a kind of demonstration of their wealth, without realizing the traffic and environmental hazards it can cause. When the subway system can take people to their destinations, driving a private car in densely populated downtown Shanghai could become a moral issue.

Shanghai should also show courage in leading Chinese cities to adopt the congestion charge system, which the city has been studying for the last eight years. A similar scheme, implemented in London and Singapore, has proved to be effective in reducing pollution and congestion in the city center.

Once Shanghai shows the way, other cities, like Beijing, too, may adopt the practice.

(China Daily 08/03/2009 page4)